Police Union PAC Spends $206,000 in Final Push for Ahmad Anderson in Richmond Mayor's Race

Outside money is flooding Richmond's mayoral race in its final week. A committee sponsored by the Richmond Police Officers Association spent about $206,000 between the September filing and the last pre-election deadline, backing Ahmad Anderson and opposing Claudia Jimenez, Richmondside reported Tuesday.

The police union PAC

The committee, Safe Richmond Neighborhoods Supporting Ahmad Anderson for Mayor 2026, has raised more than $341,000 this year. Of the $206,000 it spent in the latest period, about $155,000 went to TV and digital ads, mailers and door hangers supporting Anderson, and just over $51,000 went to opposing Jimenez, including $15,000 in TV ads on Oct. 13. All of its spending against Jimenez came in this latest period. Independent-expenditure records compiled by The Ballot Book show the committee filed spending against Jimenez on Oct. 13, Oct. 17 and Oct. 23.

Most of the $31,500 the committee raised this period came from two building-trades unions: $25,000 from Steamfitters Local 342 of Concord and $5,000 from Plumbers & Steamfitters UA Local 159 of Martinez. Another $1,500 came from Garry's List Action, a political committee launched by Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan.

One mailer accuses Jimenez of casting the "deciding vote" against creating an ethics commission. Jimenez responded that the vote was 4-3 and that Mayor Eduardo Martinez, Vice Mayor Doria Robinson and Councilmember Sue Wilson also voted no. A TV ad from the committee misspelled her last name.

The other side

East Bay Working Families, a coalition of public employee unions and community groups, spent just over $43,000 supporting Jimenez in the latest period, on canvassing, mailers and digital ads, and just under $220,000 this cycle.

The candidates' own money

For the year, Jimenez has raised just under $127,000 and Anderson almost $119,000. In the latest period, Anderson raised about $19,600 and spent nearly $51,000, ending with about -$1,200. Jimenez raised $15,500, spent just under $41,000 and ended with about $29,200.

For more on the race, see our guide to Claudia Jimenez vs. Ahmad Anderson.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.